History

Lambda Phi Epsilon was founded on February 25, 1981 by a group of eighteen dedicated men led by principal founder Craig Ishigo at the University of California, Los Angeles. Hoping to transcend the traditional boundaries of national origins, the founders aimed to create an organization that would set new standards of excellence within the Asian American community, developed leaders within each of the member’s respective community, and bridge the gaps between those communities. While the initial charter was comprised of Asian Pacific Americans, the brotherhood was open to all who were interested in supporting these goals. On May 28, 1990, now had six chapters total, held their first annual National Convention, a tradition that has still been kept to this day over Memorial Day weekend. On September 8, 1990, Lambda Phi Epsilon was recognized as the first and nationally recognized Asian American interest fraternity in the United States with the admission to the National Interfraternity Conference. Today, Lambda Phi Epsilon continues expand across the world and has become the largest and fastest Asian American fraternity in the country.

Lambda Phi Epsilon at The Pennsylvania State University was founded on May 10, 1994 by a group of six ambitious men led by Randy Salacup of Eta Chapter located at the University of California, Riverside. These six men were determined to bring an organization dedicated to increasing Asian awareness and to provide services in the best interest of our community and university. Nearly a year after the chapter was founded, Lambda Phi Epsilon represented the first Asian American dancer in the history of THON, an annual three day dance marathon as a fundraising effort towards the Four Diamonds Fund, with a member of its charter class.